Is it possible to measure sound quality?

In electronic hi-fi components, accuracy, noise and distortion are easy to measure. Orders of magnitude better than human hearing!

Now loudspeaker, microphones and headphones are a different ballgame. But measurements are getting better at predicting human preferences in different situations.

Components with euphonic colorations are yet another ballgame and measurements won't help much.
 
Unless "sound quality" is strictly defined, then no. Nothing completely vague/meaningless can be measured.
Happy 4th
 
I think it impossible and a waste of time to try. There are far to many variables. Start with the individual response of ears and go from there with a list that would be quite long
 
We don't all hear the same thing. I don't know how measure sound quality unless it's very generic.

Does a system have "good quality" bass, mids and highs? This has all the makings of a SS vs tubes or Cables discussion.

The sound of my system may not move others but that doesn't make it incorrect.
 
The Audio Measurement Handbook - Audio Precision is a good resource for learning about these types of tests. Login required, but it’s a free download after that—NB: I don’t work for AP, just think it’s a useful book.
 
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